Antonio Conte praised his Napoli gamers regardless of a 3-2 loss in opposition to Chelsea and the ensuing Champions League elimination, however complained concerning the Serie A schedule: ‘You need to surprise who had the intense concept to schedule us at 18:00 on Saturday in opposition to Fiorentina.’
Napoli had been the one Serie A staff to face Champions League elimination within the league part following a 3-2 loss in opposition to Chelsea on Wednesday.
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The defending Serie A champions have been with out a number of first-team gamers for over two months, together with Kevin De Bruyne, Frank Zambo Anguissa and Billy Gilmour. The likes of Amir Rrahmani, Matteo Politano and David Neres suffered accidents extra lately and usually are not anticipated to get better anytime quickly.
Conte but in addition expressed his dissatisfaction with the Serie A fixture checklist (by way of ).
Conte sarcastic about Serie A fixture checklist
MILAN, ITALY – JANUARY 11: Antonio Conte, Head Coach of SSC Napoli, seems on previous to the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and SSC Napoli at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on January 11, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photograph by Marco Luzzani/Getty Photographs)
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“I believe the efficiency ought to be appreciated, the best way we performed, with braveness, every part we did whereas nonetheless going toe to toe with a staff that’s constructed to realize nice issues,” Conte mentioned.
“We had been clearly in massive hassle by way of gamers’ availability. Let’s not neglect that these similar gamers will likely be taking part in once more on Saturday, in simply two and a half days. You need to surprise who had the intense concept to schedule us at 18:00 on Saturday in opposition to Fiorentina, contemplating there’s a free week anyway. That additionally leaves me a bit puzzled.
NAPLES, ITALY – JANUARY 28: Giovanni Di Lorenzo of SSC Napoli seems dejected at full-time following the staff’s defeat within the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Part MD8 match between SSC Napoli and Chelsea FC at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on January 28, 2026 in Naples, Italy. (Photograph by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Photographs)
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“The lads went past my expectations. Enjoying a match like this in opposition to Chelsea…we deserved rather more than what occurred.”
Conte’s Napoli sit fourth within the Serie A desk, degree on 43 factors with Roma.
Inter, Juventus and Atalanta certified for the subsequent Champions League part, however completed outdoors the highest eight, so that they’ll be concerned within the knock-out play-offs.